Improvement in grave protectors or shields



D. DAVIS. Grave Protector and Shield. No. 215.582.

Patented May 20 ,1879.

lNvEN-rmR: @W Q WITNESSES:

NPE'ERS. PHcTO UTHOGRAFHER UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DAVID DAVIS, OF NEBRASKA, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN GRAVE-PROTECTORS QR SHIELDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 215.582, dated May 20, 1879; application filed March 6, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID DAVIS, of Nebraska, county of Pickaway, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Mode of Protecting Dead Human Bodies, after Interment, from being Stolen or Disturbed by Grave-Robbers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and correct description of my said invention, when taken in connection with the drawing thereof hereunto attached.

My invention consists of a large cast-iron plate, A, which is about four feet wide by seven and one-half feet in length, in which are formed eighteen slots or mortises, each of which is marked B, and through fourteen of which are driven the fourteen iron spuds, (marked G.) The spuds are made to reach from top of plate A, which is placed on top of the grave, to the bottom of the grave, along each side and end of the coffin.

The spuds G, that are driven along the side of the grave, are firmly keyed and fastened on top of plate A by a strong iron key, D, inserted in notches in said spuds. Those driven along the ends of the coffin are attached in like manner by an iron key, E.

Through four of the slots, two upon each side of the coffin, are driven the crooked iron spuds F, with the curve outward, and which penetrate into the solid earth at the bottom and sides of the grave, thereby preventing the moving of plate A until each of the entire number of spuds are entirely removed. The crooked spuds F are firmly clamped together at the top by a strong iron clamp, P, which catches in a hook at top of said spuds, and also passes over staple d, to which said clamp is firmly fastened by a substantial padlock.

Q Q represent heavy iron plates, two feet in width, which are attached to the sides and ends of plate A by means of cleats 0, being placed beneath slots B at each side and end of plate A, and through each of which is driven one of the iron spuds O.

O G C 0 represent spindles, upon each of which are placed truck-wheels, for the purpose of moving the protector from one' grave to another, when it may become unnecessary to longer protect the same grave, which removal can be readily done only when the protector is completely limbered up and all the locks (of which there are four) are properly unlocked.

H represents a substantial iron box, which serves as a cap, and which completely incloses the gearing and fastening of the spuds on top of plate A, and which is attached to plate A by hinges N N.

M M represent hasps firmly attachedto cap H, and firmly locked to staples in plate A by substantial padlocks.

The protector is composed entirely of wrought-iron andcast-iron,and is soconstructed as to be applicable to either a large or small grave. The total weight when all complete is about one thousand two hundred pounds.

From the foregoing it can be easily seen that the protector protects on all sides of the cotfin and over the top of the grave, and four feet on each side and end at the top, and also protects from top to bottom of grave on each side and end of grave.

I claim as my invention The combination of the mortised plate A, the keyed bars G, and bars F F, united together at their tops and locked, and the outer cover, H, all as and for the purposes described and set forth. I DAVID DAVIS.

Attest:

J. LONGENBAUGH, A. J. GRIGsBY, SAML. W. GOU'RTRIGHT. 

